Treatment of Delayed Chylothorax Complicating Oesophagectomy

Abstract

A patient with carcinoma of the cardia underwent Ivor-Lewis oesophagogastrectomy. He developed right chylothorax postoperatively, which is a rare complication. Attempts to treat the chylothorax by conservative means and thoracoscopic ligation failed. Finally, pleurodesis using bleomycin successfully sealed the leak and he was discharged.

Keywords

• chylothorax
• oesophageal carcinoma
• pleurodesis